by From staff and wire reports, USA TODAY

by From staff and wire reports, USA TODAY

The banged-up last-place Florida Panthers received more bad news when they learned that No. 1 center Stephen Weiss will be out for the season.

He will have surgery on his wrist, which has bothered him this season.

"He couldn't perform up to his abilities and he wanted to get it fixed," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon told reporters.

Weiss, who's in the final year of a six-year, $18.6 million contract, has one goal in 17 games.

"He's not able to shoot on the power play and it renders him ineffective," coach Kevin Dineen told reporters. "He's a different player (from) in the past and it obviously affected his game and it's a loss for us."

The Panthers won the Southeast Division last season but have struggled with injuries this season. Goalie Jose Theodore left Saturday's game with a lower-body injury and is out four to six weeks. The team is also missing Kris Versteeg, Ed Jovanovski, Dmitry Kulikov, Mike Weaver, Scottie Upshall and Sean Bergenheim. Versteeg might be back on Friday.

"We've had a different lineup every night," Tallon said. "I think the fewest injuries we've had in a game is four regulars. You have your starting goalie, three of your four top defensemen and four of your top nine forwards out of the lineup."